BSS - Chapter 41
Chapter 41
The darkness hid Deng Chuan's face. Xu Wei cupped her face as she leaned in, her hands taking the place of her eyes, brushing over her nose, mouth, and cheeks. Deng Chuan's features gradually grew clear in her hands.
The darkness also made Deng Chuan's eyes seem exceptionally bright. Xu Wei closed her own, feeling the other girl's gaze on her face, a soft, downy warmth, like the fine peach fuzz on a young person's cheek.
Leave it to a young person, she thought. Kissing you endlessly the moment they get the chance.
In the pauses between kisses, Xu Wei caressed the small bone on the bridge of Deng Chuan's nose with an unhurried rhythm. Yet the two of them drew closer and closer.
Deng Chuan's arms tightened, embracing Xu Wei's waist. With a warm, fragrant, and soft body in her arms, Deng Chuan held her tighter and tighter, almost losing her self-control.
"Remember to miss me," she said in a low voice, nibbling on Xu Wei's lip. The word "miss" was spoken with a tenderness that was as soft as Xu Wei's own murmured assent.
In the night, Xu Wei rolled down the car window and watched Deng Chuan's retreating figure. It was late, and the streetlights cast a long, continuous spotlight. Deng Chuan's tall, slender silhouette walked farther and farther away, as if about to disappear into the city's concrete jungle. Just as a sense of melancholy set in, Deng Chuan suddenly turned her head and gave Xu Wei a big, bright smile, a smile like a firework suddenly bursting in the night sky.
She stretched out her arm, waving to Xu Wei from afar, spun around once in a silly way, and gradually walked into the residential complex, which was heavy with the shadows of trees.
Only after her figure had completely disappeared did Xu Wei start the car.
When Deng Chuan got home, no one was there; the apartment was dark and gloomy. Deng Chuan glanced at her phone. Xu Wei probably wasn't home yet. She turned on the air conditioner in her room first, then gathered her clothes to take a shower.
When she came out of the shower, the room was at a comfortable temperature. Deng Chuan leaned against her pillow and opened the message from Xu Wei. Besides a message letting her know she'd arrived home safely, Xu Wei had also sent a photo. The photo showed a round, bright moon in the sky, but Xu Wei had only said: There are stars tonight.
Deng Chuan smiled on her end. She didn't quite understand what Xu Wei was trying to say, but people in love always especially enjoy the process of guessing each other's thoughts. In this process, their thoughts are like intertwined silk threads, woven into a seamless celestial garment, waiting to be revealed piece by piece in the end.
She played along with a "Wow," and added: I want to take pictures.
She then asked if Xu Wei liked photography. After a moment, Xu Wei replied, "It's alright."
So Deng Chuan said, "In the future, when we travel together, I'll take pictures for you. Your exclusive photographer."
Xu Wei sent that Shiba Inu head-pat sticker again and replied meaningfully: You'll have to compete for the position if you want to travel with me.
Deng Chuan asked her: Who am I competing with?
Xu Wei answered: With your Sister Yang. She then explained: We were originally planning to go to Chongqing after the Gaokao results were out and things got less busy.
Alright. Deng Chuan replied to her, "Then do I still have a chance to compete?"
Do you want to? Xu Wei asked her.
Deng Chuan sent back a sticker of a puppy nodding its head nonstop.
She added: If we can't go together, can we create a chance encounter?
Xu Wei teased her: What if you can't find me?
Deng Chuan replied: Then I'll just have to pursue you all over again, won't I?
Xu Wei feigned surprise: Am I that easy to pursue?
Not easy at all, Deng Chuan said, so I have to work hard to keep you.
She sent another sticker: a kitten pounces on a big cat, gets knocked over by a swat, but then pounces again, undaunted.
Xu Wei commented on the sticker, though it seemed she was also commenting on Deng Chuan: Little Fool.
The two were lovey-dovey for a while longer, exchanging some nonsensical chatter, and in the end, they actually settled on a plan to have Yang Jing treat Deng Chuan to a meal.
Before bed, Xu Wei nonchalantly informed Yang Jing of this news. Yang Jing ran a psychology clinic and usually kept a regular schedule, so she was already asleep.
The next morning, she immediately called and woke Xu Wei up.
As soon as the call connected, Yang Jing said in a sarcastic tone, "Teacher Xu, you're really something else, aren't you?"
Xu Wei was still half-asleep and asked her, "What?"
Yang Jing seemed to be outside; a loud car horn blared through the phone. "I'm saying, you robbing the cradle is really something else."
The horn completely jolted Xu Wei awake. She held her forehead, her voice a little weak. "I'm not old."
Yang Jing said faintly, "I could tell there was something going on between you two last time."
"You don't need to worry about that," Xu Wei said, clearing her throat. "The kid might be feeling a little insecure, so let's have a meal together."
Yang Jing said, "Alright, alright. When?"
"After the Gaokao results are out."
"Heh, I get it. And then the three of us will go to Chongqing together, is that it?"
Xu Wei answered evasively, "We'll talk about that when the time comes."
Yang Jing snorted, then asked her, "Xu Wei, have you thought about the future?"
"I have, but I didn't let myself think too far," Xu Wei said frankly, then sighed. "Sigh, but I'm truly happy right now."
Yang Jing said, "That's true. It's been so long since you were in a relationship. It's not easy for an old tree to bloom."
Xu Wei emphasized once more, "I'm not old."
Yang Jing continued on her own, "I'll give you my blessing for now, but if the kid doesn't treat you well, you dump her as soon as possible, you hear?"
"Thank you, but you should just shut up now, Dr. Yang."
"Teacher Xu, you're so fierce," Yang Jing said cheekily. "Does your little kid know you're this fierce?"
"She won't find out," Xu Wei said calmly. "Hanging up. Have a good day at work."
The phone call completely dispelled Xu Wei's sleepiness. Zhou Liu was still sleeping soundly beside her pillow. Xu Wei poked his soft belly, but he didn't react, his little mouth slightly open, revealing a tiny sliver of his pink tongue.
He slept with such innocence and tranquility that he immediately made Xu Wei think of Deng Chuan.
Xu Wei leaned in closer, lowered her head, and couldn't resist giving it a kiss.
The kiss made Zhou Liu's whiskers twitch, but he didn't wake up and continued to sleep on, oblivious.
Xu Wei got out of bed and pulled open the blackout curtains. Bright morning light streamed in, along with the sounds of children's shrieks and laughter from the residential complex.
On a summer morning, the sun was already scorching hot early on. After Deng Chuan and Pei Qingyu finished registering at the driving school, they took the subway back.
Deng Chuan wore a baseball cap, which barely shielded her from the sun's burning heat. The morning rush hour had passed, so there were still seats on the subway.
She sat down and lowered her head to check her messages.
Xu Wei was awake and had replied to her "Good morning."
Deng Chuan proactively reported her itinerary: We've finished registering and are taking the subway home now.
She waited for a long time but didn't get a reply from Xu Wei. Instead, she saw a new Moments post from her.
Teacher Xu had posted on her Moments for the first time in a while. It was a picture of Zhou Liu fast asleep, with the caption: Woke up to see a little fool sleeping more soundly than me.
She looked at the photo carefully. In her heart, she felt that Zhou Liu's sleeping posture looked a lot like Xu Wei when she had fallen asleep on her shoulder last night.
Given Xu Wei's professional sensitivity, her account was probably followed by many students and colleagues. Deng Chuan couldn't reply too intimately, so after some thought, she restrained herself and just gave it a like.
Just then, Pei Qingyu leaned over to show her a funny cat video. She took one of the earbuds and casually locked her phone and put it in her pocket.
The two returned home. Pei Qingyu was so hot that she went to take a shower and changed into Deng Chuan's pajamas. They had grown up together, so this kind of thing was very normal.
Deng Chuan also changed her clothes. When she was done and had settled back on the sofa, idly flipping through channels with the remote to find a variety show, she called out, "Qingyu."
Pei Qingyu didn't turn around. "What?"
Deng Chuan said tentatively, "There's something I want to tell you."
"What is it?" Pei Qingyu randomly selected a variety show to watch, then asked her, "Want some milk tea?"
"…Yes, I want the coconut jasmine one."
"OK."
Pei Qingyu placed an order on her phone, then looked up again, puzzled. "Didn't you have something to tell me? What is it?"
Deng Chuan bit her lip. "I'm in a relationship."
Pei Qingyu took a few seconds to react, a look of disbelief on her face. "So fast?!"
"…What?"
"With your Teacher Xu, right? Okay, I get it. Remember to tell Su Mian."
Pei Qingyu finished processing the information and turned back to watch TV.
After a moment, she turned back again and said earnestly, "Congratulations."
"…Thanks."
"Mhm." Pei Qingyu seemed very relaxed. She turned back, exited the variety show she had randomly picked, and muttered under her breath about how bad it was.
Seeing her like this, the nervousness Deng Chuan had been feeling instantly dissipated. They decided against watching TV, connected a Switch to the television, and sat on the rug to play games.
In the middle of their game, the milk tea delivery arrived. Deng Chuan went barefoot to open the door. When she turned back, Overcooked was already in complete chaos.
The two took the opportunity to take a break. Deng Chuan unwrapped a straw and drank her milk tea, casually picking up her phone to check her messages.
Xu Wei had asked her in a private message: Are you home?
Deng Chuan quickly replied: I am.
She explained a bit sheepishly: I was just playing a game with Qingyu.
Xu Wei was very good-natured about it: You two have fun.
Deng Chuan asked what Xu Wei was doing. Xu Wei said she was in a meeting.
The Gaokao scores weren't even out yet, but the school still had to hold a teachers' meeting.
Deng Chuan thought for a moment and secretly ordered a milk tea for Xu Wei. She remembered Xu Wei's current address very clearly from helping her move. Or rather, when it came to memories of Xu Wei, Deng Chuan's were always crystal clear.
She remembered the details of every scene where they had met. When doing reading comprehension, Deng Chuan was often particularly sensitive to passages that used detailed descriptions. She had mastered this concept very well.
The first time they met, there was the chalk dust rising from the lectern, and Xu Wei's fingertips pinching a short piece of chalk. Later, on the school path, there was the luster of the dim yellow streetlight reflecting off the crown of Xu Wei's hair. In the dim light of the sports field, her eyes were sparkling. And then yesterday, while moving, Xu Wei carried a packed box into the elevator, and a drop of sweat trickled down her fair, soft cheek.
The details carried by these images were treasured in Deng Chuan's memory, almost as if they had been engraved by time itself.
Memories may be defeated by time, but love will not.
About half an hour later, Deng Chuan's phone vibrated. Thinking it must be a message from Xu Wei, she quickly reached out a hand to grab the phone from the sofa.
On the other end, Xu Wei had probably received the milk tea. In their private chat, she said with a double meaning: So sweet.
But the little fool's brain was probably fried from gaming, all her usual cleverness gone. Hearing this, she was still anxiously explaining: Ah, but I specifically ordered it with less sugar.
Comments
Post a Comment